20 May 2021 Naked Creek Waterfalls

We have visited the waterfalls on trails in Shenandoah.  Today, Ali suggested we visit the falls of Naked Creek.  There is no formal trail to these falls, but the location is well documented.  We drove to the Naked Creek overlook and began our journey with a walk throuhg the field to the woods line.

While there is no trail, the path taken by others is visible especially in the spring.

We had a first glimpse of the falls from a much higher elevation.

The falls were peaceful and worth the effort to reach them.

It was a week for spotting towhees.

Mary's Rock is a favorite place for us to visit.  It was a pleasant and refreshing break from COVID to be outdoors chatting with another couple also visiting Mary's Rock.

The sunsets knew how to please this week.

19 May 2021 Dark Hollow Falls

We left our vehicle in the parking area and headed out for a hike.  The walk from the lodge to the main road was once again a perfect place for spotting birds. 

We think this is a Swainson's Warbler.  If so, it was a first sighting for us.

Our journey today was important for me.  When we last tried to visit Dark Hollow Falls I was extremely sick.  This is one of the easiest hikes in the park, but I spent that walk falling and struggling with my balance.  Today the world was a much happier place.

We've been at this pool on prior visits and enjoy seeing trout.  The crowds and activity made little chance of spotting trout today, but we looked anyway. 

We have visited Cave Cemetery before and made a return today.  This inholding resting place has more recent burials with a few in the current century.  Nineteen children have been buried here among the thirty-seven graves.  Early death was common for the residents of these hills.

It was a wonderful day.  I felt renewed have made it back to Shenandoah and visited Dark Hollow while standing.

18 May 2021 Waterfalls and Orchids

 There's always time to stop for a view at an overlook.

We spent the day before enjoying showy orchids.  We were treated to more before we reached the first falls.

We were leaving the waterfall to continue our hike when Ali spotted a rattlesnake ahead on the trail.

Fortunately, it was intent on crossing the trail and moving on.  Nine rattles and a button is about halfway to a large rattler.  This one is on the way to becoming a large snake.

The hike was filled with falls and sluices, but the water wasn't the entire story of the day's journey.  The trails were filled with nice rock formations.

We spotted this very large jack-in-the-pulpit just off the trail.

We had finished much of our day's hiking and were back on the AT when we were totally surprised by the sight of many lady slippers along the trail.  It was odd that we were so excited over seeing dozens of these wonderful orchids while many people walked past us oblivious to the beauty.

The week's sunsets were putting on quite a show.